PBAT – one select for Biodegradable plastic disposable products material

The PBAT is the third-largest biodegradable plastic for biodegradable plastic disposable products material after starch-based plastics and PLA. We talked about PLA before in our article. Today, I will take you to take a look at the other main force of the biodegradable family-PBAT.

1. What is PBAT?

PBAT, the Chinese name is polybutylene adipate terephthalate. According to the source of biodegradable plastics, it can be divided into bio-based biodegradable materials and petrochemical-based biodegradable materials. PBAT belongs to petrochemical-based biodegradable plastics and is currently One of the most active biodegradable materials in the research of biodegradable plastics and the best market application.

PBAT is a kind of polyester, polyester = diacid + diol, polyester also contains PBS, PBSA, PBT, as shown in the figure below.

PBAT is based on 1,4-butanediol (BDO), adipic acid (AA), terephthalic acid (PTA), or glycol terephthalate (DMT) as raw materials, through direct esterification or transesterification And made.

1. Basic performance
   PBAT is a semi-crystalline polymer
   Usually, the crystallization temperature is around 110℃
   The melting point is around 130℃
   The density is between 1.18g/ml~1.3g/ml
   The crystallinity of PBAT is about 30%
   Shore hardness is above 85
2. Features of PBAT
   Typical representatives of PBAT materials are Ecoflex® from BASF in Germany and Eastman Bio® from Eastman in the United States (in 2004, Eastman sold the product to Novamont and renamed it Origo-Bi).
3. What are the applications of PBAT?

PBAT materials can not only be biodegradable but also compostable, so using PBAT can fight against white pollution. The biodegradable garbage bags produced by PBAT are the membrane materials used by the bio-composting waste center to recycle biological waste, and are mainly used in: fully degradable packaging film; Fully degradable packaging bags, including shopping bags, rolled garbage bags, pet feces bags, electronic product packaging bags, food packaging bags, mulching film, etc.

Driven by environmental protection policies, the application of PLA, PBAT, PHA, PCL, PBS, and other biodegradable plastics in the fields of disposable tableware, packaging, agriculture, automobiles, medical treatment, textiles, etc. is ushering in new opportunities for market development. Modified materials of biodegradable plastics, as well as related additives, such as expansion links, anti-hydrolysis agents, toughening agents, nucleating agents, and antibacterial agents, will also have a new round of innovation.